25: The Power of Naming It

High-performing leaders are often masters at pushing through—through pressure, deadlines, and even betrayal. But there's a cost. When pain goes unnamed, it doesn't disappear—it drives decisions, reactions, and relationships from the shadows. In this episode, Dr. Debi Silber explores why the most courageous act a leader can take isn't to keep pushing forward, but to pause and name what's true. You'll learn how unacknowledged betrayal shows up in subtle ways—defensiveness in meetings, over-caution in decisions, emotional distance in leadership—and how the simple act of naming it begins to dissolve its power. Dr. Debi shares a 60-second grounding tool, the "Breath and Naming Exercise," to help you reset before major decisions, shift from fear to clarity, and lead from truth instead of trauma. When you name your pain, you don't get weaker—you get wiser. What You'll Learn in This Episode ●  Why pushing through betrayal keeps leaders stuck in survival mode ●  How unacknowledged pain hijacks decision-making and trust ●  The difference between reacting from fear and responding from clarity ●  How naming emotions restores focus, energy, and grounded leadership ●  The 60-second "Breath and Naming Exercise" to reset before major decisions ●  Why awareness, not avoidance, is the foundation of true resilience Key Takeaway: The pain you don't name controls you. The moment you speak it aloud, you regain power, clarity, and presence. That's how leaders move from fear-based reaction to wisdom-based action. —-- Discover how naming betrayal restores clarity, energy, and self-trust. In this episode, Dr. Debi Silber shares how to stop pushing through pain and start leading from awareness with her 60-second "Breath and Naming Exercise." —-- leadership after betrayal, naming emotions at work, betrayal recovery leadership, Dr. Debi Silber, healing leadership wounds, post betrayal transformation, emotional intelligence for leaders, trust and decision making, how to rebuild confidence after betrayal, breath and naming exercise, trauma-informed leadership, clarity after betrayal, self-awareness for executives, overcoming leadership burnout, mindfulness in decision making, nervous system regulation for leaders, healing unspoken pain at work, emotional resilience in leadership, leadership authenticity after betrayal, leading from awareness 🎙 Resources The PBT Institute Transform Program with Dr. Debi and her Certified PBT® Coaches